ostensible

[ o-sten-suh-buh l ]

/ ɒˈstɛn sə bəl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ostensible ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

outwardly appearing as such; professed; pretended: an ostensible cheerfulness concealing sadness.

apparent, evident, or conspicuous: the ostensible truth of their theories.

Words nearby ostensible

osteitis fibrosa cystica, osteitis fungosa, ostempyesis, ostend, ostend manifesto, ostensible, ostensibly, ostensive, ostensive definition, ostensorium, ostensory

Origin of ostensible

1720–30; < French < Latin ostēns(us), variant of ostentus (see ostensive) + French -ible -ible

OTHER WORDS FROM ostensible

os·ten·si·bly, adverbnon·os·ten·si·ble, adjectivenon·os·ten·si·bly, adverbun·os·ten·si·ble, adjective

un·os·ten·si·bly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ostensible

ostensible ostensive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ostensible

And why would its ostensible spokesperson refuse to answer yes/no questions about them?
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline|Jay Michaelson|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A trove of Bush-era emails that had been quote-unquote-lost resurfaced in 2009, the victim of an ostensible act of mislabeling.
Paging Rose Mary Woods: Obama’s Unbelievable Missing IRS Emails|James Poulos|June 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The ostensible middle-ground approach, to “provide weapons an training” to the Ukrainians got about 25 perent of the vote.
Europe, Stunned by Reckless Russia, Mistrusts Feckless Ukrainian Leaders|James Kirchick|March 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Oblivious self-entitlement is now so widespread and suitable for mockery that the ostensible cure has begun to follow in its wake.
Our Bad Romance Obsession Is the Ultimate First World Problem|James Poulos|January 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It would seem that for all of its ostensible lack of vim and vigor, Israel Media Watch is a very effective organization.
The Dubious Successes of Israel's Media Watch|Elisheva Goldberg|September 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A political difference as an ostensible cause of quarrel soon developed.
South American Fights and Fighters|Cyrus Townsend Brady
The ostensible contents of the box are my daughters first cap and a lock of my fathers hair.
The Doctor's Red Lamp|Various
But he is summoned to declare upon oath, before the Civil Lieutenant of Paris, whether his ostensible ownership is not simulated.
Later Queens of the French Stage|H. Noel Williams
Then follows the apparent and ostensible letter to be shown to the Chancellor.
Lord Chatham|Archibald Phillip Primrose Rosebery
Now if this were true it would not serve Dr. Farrar's ostensible purpose.
The Book Of God|G. W. Foote

British Dictionary definitions for ostensible

ostensible

/ (ɒˈstɛnsɪbəl) /

adjective

apparent; seeming

pretended

Derived forms of ostensible

ostensibility, noun

Word Origin for ostensible

C18: via French from Medieval Latin ostensibilis, from Latin ostendere to show, from ob- before + tendere to extend

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ostensible

adjective

Content related to ostensible

Words related to ostensible

Words nearby ostensible

Origin of ostensible

OTHER WORDS FROM ostensible

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ostensible

Examples from the Web for ostensible

British Dictionary definitions for ostensible

adjective

Derived forms of ostensible

Word Origin for ostensible